Musicians fight to stop unauthorized use of their songs
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 21:32 · Archive
Musicians are struggling to prevent political and commercial figures from using their songs without permission, despite copyright laws.
Australian copyright law prohibits using songs for political or commercial purposes without the author's permission, yet artists say enforcement remains difficult. The issue has resurfaced after 'I Am Australian', co-written by Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newton, was used at last week's Conservative Political Action Conference in Brisbane featuring Senator Pauline Hanson alongside anti-immigration speakers.
Newton says the use misrepresents the song's core message of unity and creates a false impression that its authors endorse the event. 'It gives the impression that we, as the authors of the song, have somehow aligned themselves with the motivations of those who were presenting that event,' he said.
Australia introduced moral rights protections in 2000 to prevent such 'derogatory treatment' of creative works, allowing creators to be credited and protecting their work from misuse. Before this amendment to the Copyright Act, legal options were limited. In 1998, when One Nation first planned to use the song for Hanson's rallies, the co-authors could only bluff: a friend who was an entertainment solicitor sent a cease and desist letter claiming moral rights protections that did not yet exist—which proved effective in stopping the use then.
How it is being reported
- Musos battle pollies, big tech to protect their songsThe law says you can't use a song for political or commercial purposes without the permission of the author. But for artists, it's like playing whack-a-mole.Perth Now · 16 Oct, 21:03
- Musos battle pollies, big tech to protect their songsThe law says you can't use a song for political or commercial purposes without the permission of the author. But for artists, it's like playing whack-a-mole.The West Australian · 16 Oct, 21:03
In this story: Dobe Newton · Bruce Woodley · Pauline Hanson · Conservative Political Action Conference · Brisbane · Australia
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